American Fever Dream

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Alise Topics: What led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, what specifically has been targeted, and what Americans should expect next. How Fox News is covering the war in Russia’s favor. Governor Greg Abbott’s disgusting attempt to deputize Texans against trans kids and their parents. A programming note about the Betches Sup podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics: The hypocrisy of Republican politicians dragging Joe Biden while celebrating Putin’s actual bestie, Donald Trump Breaking down the misconceptions about Black history in America that have led to truthful information being banned The Black teenager who was arrested on a bus before Rosa Parks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts: Amanda, Milly, Alise Topics: -Prince Charles gave the Queen COVID -What Vladimir Putin’s Ukrainian invasion has in common with Kylie Jenner’s pregnancy announcement -A conversation with HBCU grad Camille Odom about experiencing bomb threats on campus and the financial challenges facing HBCUs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami and Amanda are joined by Gabrielle Wyatt to discuss interesting job numbers related to Black women’s unemployment and steps her organization The Highland Project is taking to close the racial wealth gap. They also discuss how Black women are redefining wealth to inlcude rest. Finally, Gabrielle explains what she doesn’t like about the term The Great Resignation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Sami, and Amanda start by investigating whether Melania Trump bought an NFT of herself and why Kathy Hilton is a Trump supporter, indulging a pop culture craving for a brief aside on the Hilton family. Then, they discuss Kanye West’s disturbing social media posts and harassment of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. They discuss the role celebrity culture plays in worsening this personal conflict and how to assess the circumstances in light of Kanye’s mental health. How has the media improved since Britney’s 2007 incident, and what lessons have they yet to learn? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Kaitlin, and Amanda react to a series of lawsuits involving gun deaths and discuss whether financial settlements actually act as a deterrent to gun manufacturers or negligent movie producers. How broken is our system that the only justice for families is to dedicate their lives to getting accountability? They break down the $73 million settlement awarded to Sandy Hook families before discussing why Halyna Hutchins’ family is suing Alec Baldwin. Finally, they discuss how gun violence complicates attempts at criminal justice reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Alise, and Amanda start with the breaking news that Prince Andrew has reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in her lawsuit related to Jeff Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. They also put on their tinfoil hats to consider why a damning picture in the case mysteriously disappeared. Then, they discuss the reaction to Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s doping scandal and the double standards and unfair circumstances that allowed her to compete. They also hold a moment to make space for Christina Yuna Lee, who was murdered in her Chinatown apartment last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Alise, and Amanda are joined by Sarah Hartshorne, a writer and comedian who competed on Cycle 9 of “America’s Next Top Model.” Sarah describes being selected for the show and being told she was the “plus-size” contestant at size 8. She tells us the moment she realized it would be an intense experience and pulls back the curtain on the show’s signature elements. Then, she looks back at the show’s most problematic elements and how its intersection between the fashion industry and reality TV made it especially toxic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami and Kaitlin kick things off with a conversation about the lifting of various mask mandates around the country, all in the name of maintaining public trust. Is this a policy decision made with health data in mind, or just political posturing for the sake of appeasing voters? They also dig into a new federal lawsuit against Harvard University from three female graduate students for various incidents of sexual harassment. How is it possible for this type of behavior to happen unchecked at the university for so long? Then they reflect on the state of academia throughout the country and how these traditional power structures enable systemic abusers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda, Milly, and Alise react, again, to Joe Rogan’s inability to follow the rules governing society. They discuss if his generous use of racial slurs warrants a stronger reaction from Spotify than COVID misinformation and wonder why a man paid $100 million is allowed to get away with both. They contrast this with NBC appearing not to hire Leslie Jones to provide Olympics commentary. What do both of these headlines tell us about whose voices are actually silenced? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami and Amanda react to the police shooting of Amir Locke and the many failures that led to the 22-year-old’s death. Why do police deem Amir Locke more dangerous than Kyle Rittenhouse? Then they dive into the cultural impact of the @Dear_White_Staffers Instagram account, and how a few congressional office horror stories emboldened hundreds to share their own anonymous stories of low pay, verbal abuse, mistreatment, and poor health. From nursing to teaching to government work – why are America’s most vital workers subjected to so much misery? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Amanda, and Milly react to Rudy Giuliani making an appearance on “The Masked Singer” and discuss the cascade effect from Andrew Cuomo’s misconduct. Then, OB-GYN Dr. Heather Irobunda joins us to unpack how media platforms have failed to respond to COVID misinformation. Then they unpack the factors within the medical community that contribute to prejudiced and substandard care for Black women, and how this intersects with other societal biases. And of course, they fan girl over Rihanna being pregnant herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Amanda, and Kaitlin react to bomb threats against more than a dozen HBCUs on the first day of Black History Month. They compare this to fights over history in the classroom and whose comfort at school we *actually* value. Then they break down new info about Trump’s role in the coup attempt long before January 6, and how a few random dudes convinced him to draft executive orders to seize voting machines. Finally, they discuss Donald’s paper shredding habit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda and Sami are joined by Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan. She pulls back the curtain on the number 1 rated Sunday show and explains how she prepares questions for politicians who don’t want to give answers, shares the most difficult interviews she’s done, and reflects on being a female anchor. They also discuss what balanced journalism looks like in 2021 and her approach to covering the election. Finally – what does a Sunday morning news anchor do on Saturday nights?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami and Amanda unpack a flurry of headlines related to Spotify’s treatment of the Joe Rogan podcast. They detail which public figures have pulled their music and podcasts and react to Rogan’s 10-minute video addressing the controversy. The hosts explain how Spotify could make things right without deplatforming Rogan. Then, Sami breaks down Russia’s threat to invade Ukraine in the context of Vladimir Putin’s global ambitions. And what exactly do people mean by “World War 3?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, in honor of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sami interviews Pinchas Gutter, a Holocaust survivor who is commited in educating people through telling his incredible story. Pinchas walks us through his whole life story and his memories from growing up in Poland before the occupation, and how his life changed forever once the Nazis invaded. They also discuss the state of the world today, and all the initiatives Pinchas has been a part of in order to ensure that his story as well as those of other survivors are forever preserved. To learn more about the USC Shoah Foundation and their valuable work, visit: https://sfi.usc.edu/. If you are interested in donating to the organization, you can do so by texting TESTIMONY to 41444. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Amanda, and Kaitlin start the show moments after the news that liberal Justice Stephen Breyer will retire, paving the way for Biden to add a Black woman (or maybe, several?) to the Supreme Court. Then, they dive into news that the SAT will go digital and reflect on their own test-taking experiences while zooming out to look at how standardized testing contributes to inequality. Then, they look at two affirmative action cases in the Supreme Court that could prohibit schools from considering race as a factor in admissions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Milly, and Amanda react to breaking news that Jennie Nguyen has been fired from “Real Housewives.” Then, they make some space to discuss the psychological and emotional toll of the second pandemic winter and accept that “normal” times may never return. Then, they discuss Sarah Palin testing positive for COVID ahead of her trial against the New York Times for defamation and share details and potential outcomes of her libel suit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ali Vitali joins Sami and Amanda to preview what to expect in Congress between now and the midterms. She shares her inside reporting on how Democrats might move forward with voting rights and Build Back Better, what’s *actually* going on in Joe Manchin’s head, if any Republican might surprise us, and prospect for paid leave. She also shares which senators are the hardest to chase and the best footwear for Capitol Hill before previewing how Democrats in Congress could pass legislation to protect abortion rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Milly, and Amanda react to a huge week in politics, from Joe Biden’s marathon press conference to a rough all-nighter for voting rights. Then they roast an absurd Florida bill that prohibits making white people uncomfortable about America’s racist past. For the pop culture segment, they break down racist, Islamaphobic, and anti-vax social media posts from “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” cast member Jennie Nguyen. They discuss why she should be fired from the show, but also acknowledge the common experience of finding out a person you admire or cherish has racist or dehumanizing views Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami, Amanda, and Kaitlin react to a viral fake news story claiming former Trump aide Hope Hicks was going on Big Brother. Then, they run through a few subpoenas hitting the Trump family. For the main discussion, they answer some big questions one year into the Biden administration on the anniversary of the inauguration. Who was the MVP? Who disappointed us? How has our relationship with the news changed, and what are we surprised hasn’t been solved yet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Amanda, and Alise ease in after a long weekend with a headline about billionaires getting richer during COVID. Then, they react to the hostage situation at a Texas synagogue and how a rabbi and his congregants freed themselves after a 10-hour standoff. They discuss why it’s important to label this as an antisemitic attack. Lastly, they cover the murder of Michelle Alyssa Go, who was fatally pushed in front of a subway train, and call it what it is: an anti-Asian attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts are joined by Joselle Torres of DemocracyNC, who shares insights from the center of this year’s fight against newly gerrymandered maps. The 2020 Census and subsequent redistricting have prompted state legislatures across the country to rig electoral maps in their favor in ways that remove power and representation from marginalized communities. Joselle explains how North Carolina embodies the changing electorate and backlash and how the outcome of these map lawsuits could impact the balance of Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Alise, and Amanda are back for some culture headlines after a politics-heavy week. They start by mourning the breakup of earth’s hottest couple, Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet. Then they dive into a new study showing that some forms of cannabis prevent coronavirus from infecting human cells, but they uncover a disappointing detail. Then they unpack Jamie Lynn Spears’ first big interview about sister Britney since the end of the conservatorship. Why are Britney fans so angry at her, how can we make space for Jamie Lynn’s trauma while honoring Britney’s truth? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Kaitlin, and Amanda react to this morning’s inflation news and break down why everything is so expensive even though the economy is technically good. Then, they analyze President Biden’s fiery speech on filibuster reform and why it impressed them. Finally, they answer your questions about the filibuster, including why Dems don’t need to worry about if Republicans would retaliate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Bryan, and Amanda debrief on some buzzy politics-meet-pop culture headlines and discuss Bryan’s experience with COVID. Then, they preview the voting rights showdown in Congress coming this month. Is this the same dead-end story, or will Joe Manchin throw in some new plot lines? They share frustrations with both the Biden administration and those who criticize it when most of the blame lies with 50 Republicans and a single Democratic senator. Finally, they confront the reality that if things don’t change, Republicans could win without even cheating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise and Amanda react to a set of headlines about pet parenthood involving the Pope and Spanish law. Then they unpack the factors currently surrounding in-person learning amid Omicron. Why are parents facing unpredictable and potentially unsafe circumstances two years into the pandemic? The hosts discuss details from the standoff in Chicago between the Mayor and teachers unions and explain how the pandemic has shown how public schools are substitutes for a robust social safety net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Amanda, and Sami share some final thoughts on the January 6 commemorations and brainstorm how to keep the attack present in Americans’ hearts and minds. Then they pivot to the political reshaping of Congresswoman Liz Cheney after her vote to impeach Donald Trump. Are Democrats underutilizing this anti-choice, pro-gun Republican who might be the only way to save democracy? Finally, they roast tennis player Novak Djokovic for trying to defy Australia’s rules for entry and his likely deportation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Kaitlin, and Amanda react to Rep. Devin Nunes leaving Congress and how it benefits Nancy Pelosi. Then they reflect on the one-year anniversary of the January 6 siege on the Capitol. What can Democrats do in the next year to ensure accountability for the insurrection, including the members of Congress and Trump allies who incited it? What laws should be activated or changed to ensure appropriate penalties? Finally, what is the media’s role in covering the Republican party while protecting our democracy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Alise, and Amanda are back! They share updates amid the Omicron surge and how the virus impacted their holidays. Then they dive in to the biggest headlines of the last week, including a Twitter ban for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and guilty convictions for Elizabeth Holmes and Ghislaine Maxwell. Then they unpack the question: Are these women’s convictions as satisfying when the powerful men involved were spared? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts continue awarding the year’s top newsmakers while reflecting on the biggest moments of 2021. Finally, they guess who – or what – is most likely to get canceled in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this two-part, year-end Sup extravaganza, Amanda, Alise, Milly, Sami and Bryan award the 2021 SUPerlative awards to the cast of characters who defined the year, from the most likely insurrectionist to succeed in prison and most likely to get kicked off of Twitter in 2022 to the year’s most influential inanimate objects and biggest fall from grace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda, Milly, Alise, and Sami react to the New Yorker profile of “Succession” actor Jeremy Strong and the bizarre reaction from celebrities coming to his defense. Strong is accused of being unusual and hard to work, yet people from Aaron Sorkin to Anne Hathaway have responded as if the gentle ribbing was a character assassination. Has the fact that so many public men have been exposed as awful monsters made people overly reactive to minor call-outs? We discuss. Then, they each share their hottest “Succession” takes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Milly, and Amanda are back for a q&a episode that quickly becomes a group therapy session to process the chaos, toxicity, and moments of joy from the last year. They share their highlights and lowlights, biggest areas of growth, and what political issues they’re genuinely hopeful about in the new year. They also answer tons of personal questions about their medication regimens and dog mom lifestyles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Alise, and Amanda react to the White House’s announcements amid the Omicron surge and discuss how to productively critique the Biden administration while recognizing how dangerous the alternative. Then, they look forward to what’s next for the Build Back Better bill and options for getting Joe Manchin’s support and discuss the fallout from his announcement. Finally, they unpack Manchin’s concerns that people will use paid family leave to go deer hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda, Alise, and Sami do a necessary vibe check before diving into the current state of the pandemic and how to weigh personal risk ahead of the holidays. Then, they react to Joe Manchin blowing up the Biden agenda on Fox News announcing his opposition to Build Back Better. They explain what role the Biden administration played in this failure and what comes next. Finally, they discuss how *not* to spiral in frustration with Democrats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Alise, Sami, and Amanda react to alarming headlines about the Omicron variant’s spread. Then, they unpack the case of Josh Duggar of “19 Kids And Counting Fame” and his conviction for child sex abuse images. They detail the Duggar’s family history and the accusations that pre-dated their reality show, and why greater intervention wasn’t taken at the time. Finally, they analyze how purity culture impacts adolescent girls and boys and how the criminal justice system is ill-prepared to handle incest and sexual assault among minors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Amanda, and Kaitlin react to the Maryland Zebras’ triumphant return and share a timely followup to our Elon Musk conversation. Then they share updates on Build Back Better and where the urgency has gone. They hone in on the paid family and sick leave provision and break down how the program works, how much money people get, and how it compares to other countries. Finally, they ask: Why does the U.S. government treat children like adults?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly, Bryan, and Amanda react to Britney Spears’ recent comments on *that* Diane Sawyer interview. Then they discuss why TIME magazine named Elon Musk the person of the year and reflect on his overall societal impact on 2021 -- was it net negative, or net positive? They also pitch their own alternatives. Finally, they react to text messages showing Don Jr asked daddy to speak out during the insurrection and consider why all of Fox News had a direct line to the Trump White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda and Sami are back for a Monday debrief on the weekend’s headlines, from the aftermath of the tornadoes and the role of climate change to next steps for Texas’ extreme abortion ban. They discuss Governor Gavin Newsom’s promise to draft similar legislation related to certain types of guns and the usefulness of comparing gun rights to abortion rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Milly, and Amanda react to a delightful story involving Finland’s prime minister and explain why her late-night clubbing scandal is actually a feminist victory. They also share updates about the man who lit the Fox News Christmas tree on fire. Finally, they break down Travis Scott’s hour-long interview with Charlamagne the God about the Astroworld tragedy. Spoiler Alert: It’s not good! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami, Kaitlin, and Amanda reflect on Angela Merkel’s legacy and what women in leadership can learn from her hits and misses. Then they unpack the Atlantic article everyone’s talking about titled “Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun.” They highlight the new information and detail why Republican theft of the presidency in 2024 is guaranteed without action from Democrats. They agonize over why Democrats haven’t taken the threat seriously enough and what demands a mass democracy protest could make to prevent a literal coup. What would democracy tell us with its dying breath? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Milly, and Amanda react to a series of minor scandals, from cocaine found all over UK parliament to Kamala Harris’s preferred headphones. Then, they break down the Chicago trial of Jussie Smollett who is charged with six felonies related to staging an attack in 2019. They walk through what Smollett claims happened and the likelihood a jury will find him guilty, plus the impact of the trial on conversations about racial violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami and Amanda debrief on the latest COVID travel restrictions and how Sami’s experience freezing her eggs relates to abortion rights. Then they break down how Democrats have reacted to a series of insane outbursts from the right, from a Kentucky congressman posting a gun-heavy holiday card to whether punishing Lauren Boebert could backfire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CNN contributor and epidemiologist Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joins us to break down everything we’ve learned about the Omicron variant, what’s left to know, and whether it could change the course of the pandemic. Listen to Dr. El-Sayed on America, Dissected or subscribe to his newsletter at incision.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milly and Amanda are joined by Imani Gandy, the Senior Editor Law & Policy at Rewire News Group to break down yesterday’s Supreme Court hearing over Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. She breaks down the justices most alarming statements and how an undue burden test became a case to overturn Roe. Finally, she answers your questions about abortion rights in blue states, how Congress could intervene, and what abortion bans mean for high-risk pregnancies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Milly, and Amanda react to yesterday’s school shooting in Michigan and preview the SCOTUS case that could get Roe overturned. Then they discuss the exoneration of Anthony Broadwater, who was wrongly convicted in the rape of author Alice Sebold, who later detailed the experience her book “Lucky” read by millions. They break down the flaws in the 1982 case and what finally led to Broadwater’s exoneration 23 years after he spent 16 years in prison. Finally, they discuss how the criminal justice system fails victims and marginalized communities and what needs to change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Amanda, and Bryan react to the trial against Ghislaine Maxwell, accused of sex trafficking and grooming young women for Jeffrey Epstein. They explain how the female-dominated trial plays into the gender dynamics of 2021 and the shocking tactics from the defense. They also try to discern Ghislaine Maxwell’s motivation for committing sex crimes for Jeffrey Epstein. Finally, they discuss the trial against Kim Potter for killing 20 year old Daunte Wright and share their Giving Tuesday recommendations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami and Amanda catch up after a long holiday weekend before unpacking what we know about the Omicron variant. How much of the alarm is legitimate and how much is manufactured? They have a broader conversation about how the new variant highlights how far we are from a pre-pandemic norm. Then, they discuss Americans’ dissatisfaction with the economy despite data suggesting a healthy recovery. They explain how inflation and supply chain issues vary in impact, why everyone’s “economy” is different, and how President Biden can change the vibes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alise, Bryan, and Amanda chat for a special holiday episode dedicated to the recent surge of millennial nostalgia. They consider how this wave of reboots, revivals and retrospectives differs from normal trend cycles and why 30-somethings might be gripping onto these past comforts. Finally, they discuss which day in the early 2000s they’d choose to relive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices